The chain, which serves a variety of Tex-Mex foods like tacos, burritos and nachos, is to move into the vacant unit most recently occupied by Scrumpchinos, which is closed, and you don't have long to wait as the opening has been brought forward.

It was originally said the new eatery would open early next year, but it has now been revealed the branch will open on Wednesday (December 19).

A Taco Bell signature dish - a crunchy taco (Image: Taco Bell)

The new restaurant will bring more than 50 new jobs to Croydon, with eight management positions. This opening will be the 34th Taco Bell restaurant to open in the UK.

Customers will be able to dine in at the 45 seat restaurant, or if you are in more of a rush, choose to takeaway.

Lucy Dee, from Taco Bell, said the chain has had its "eye on Croydon for a while".

"George Street has a high footfall of those looking for entertainment and of course a bite to eat, providing us with the perfect spot to expand our portfolio in the area," he added.

"We look forward to welcoming even more Taco Bell fans and first-timers through our doors.

"To kick off the celebrations in style, we’re giving away a free Taco Bell t-shirt to the first 100 customers through our doors.”

Taco Bell has more than 7,000 stores worldwide (Image: Taco Bell)

Taco Bell, which describes itself as one of America’s most famous Mexican-inspired fast-food chains, originally launched in the United States but has since expanded wordlwide.

There are currently more than 425 Taco Bell restaurants across 27 countries outside of the US.

As of last month, there was no Taco Bell restaurants in London. This changed when the chain opened a store on King Street, Hammersmith, on November 23.

A second restaurant opened in the capital on Southampton Row, Holburn on November 30, while another restaurant is due to open on Fulham Broadway in early 2019.

Specials will include Happy Hour and Taco Tuesday, which features a taco and a beer for just £2. There will also be a ‘Cravers’ value menu, which offers smaller options at lower prices.

For more information and details of Taco Bell store openings across London visit www.tacobelluk.co.uk . Alternatively, follow @TacoBellUK on social media.

A Taco Bell seven-layer burrito (Image: Taco Bell)

Did you know?

Glen Bell, creator of Taco Bell, first named the business Bell's Drive-In and Taco Tia in 1954.

In 1962, Glen Bell opened his first Taco Bell restaurant in Downey, California.

Taco Bell serves more than 2 billion customers each year at 7,000 restaurant worldwide

In 1986, a Taco Bell was opened in London on Coventry Street, followed by a second restaurant in Earls Court near the Earl's Court Tube station. One other store opened in Uxbridge but all closed in the mid-1990s.

In 2001, Taco Bell promised a free taco to everyone in the United States if the the falling space station MIR hit a floating 40 by 40-foot Taco Bell target. This never happened.

In 2012, the company airlifted 10,000 Doritos Locos Tacos to the remote town of Bethel, Alaska after someone posted fake fliers around town announcing that a Taco Bell would be opening.